Insecurity: Mark seeks global community’s understanding

Senate President David Mark yesterday pleaded with the international community to show understanding about the peculiarity of the Nigerian security challenges.

He urged the international community to help the country tackle the problem instead of wishing the country away.

Mark spoke in Abuja when the Australian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jonathan Richardson, visited him in his office.

The Senate President noted that despite the challenges, Nigerians have resolved to stay together as a united nation.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, the Senate President said: “We admit that we have challenges, especially insecurity. We are making serious efforts to solve them. They are not insurmountable. All we need is the cooperation and understanding of the international community, instead of otherwise.

“The National Assembly will do anything, through legislation, to bring the matter under control as quickly as possible. As you are aware, the government has set up Amnesty Committee, which is working out a blueprint on how to end the crisis.”

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) yesterday warned that insecurity may threaten the 2015 general elections, if drastic measures are not urgently taken.

Addressing reporters in Abuja on the state of the nation, the group noted that there is a political dimension to the insecurity threatening the country.

It said this has negative effects on the nation’s peace.

TMG Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, urged the Federal Government to come up with a holistic strategy that will help to combat insecurity across the land.

He said: “If 2015 will become a reality in the Nigeria’s electoral circle, there must be methodological strategies that will bring about lasting solutions to the plethora of insecurity, as witnessed in recent times.”

Zikirullahi noted that as Nigeria prepares for the 2015 polls, there is need for an electoral reform, which should be based on the Justice Muhammadu Uwais panel’s recommendations.

According to him, the recommendations are now apt for genuine electoral development of Nigeria.